Study of the relationship between the degree of tinnitus annoyance the presence of hyperacusis✩✩Please cite this article as: Guimarães AC, Carvalho GM, Voltolini MM, Zappelini CE, Mezzalira R, Stoler G, et al. Study of the relationship between the degree of tinnitus annoyance and the presence of hyperacusis. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2014;80:24-8.

AbstractIntroductionHyperacusis can be defined as a manifestation of an increased of central auditory pathways gain and can be considered a pre-tinnitus state. In some cases tinnitus can be caused by such increased gain.AimTo evaluate the prevalence of hyperacusis in patients with tinnitus and its relation to the annoyance of tinnitus.Materials and methodsRetrospective study with patients from the neurotology service complaining of tinnitus in the first consultation were submitted to clinical evaluation, a questionnaire and audiological evaluation of tinnitus and hyperacusis. The degree of annoyance of tinnitus and hyperacusis was measured using a visual analog scale.ResultsWe analyzed medical records of 309 patients, 169 (54.7%) females and 140 (45.3%) males. The mean age was 53 years. The median degree of tinnitus annoyance was 7. Hyperacusis was present in 57 (18.4%) patients, with a median degree of 5. The degree of annoyance due to tinnitus patients with hyperacusis was similar to that of patients without hyperacusis.ConclusionHyperacusis was present in 18.4% of patients with tinnitus. The degree of annoyance due to tinnitus had no correlation with the presence of hyperacusis.© 2014 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved